Recently took Jbird and JB ice skating (B decided to stay home). We put the ice skates on JB, but think they were just too big! We ended up taking them off and he had a blast running around in his boots.

This was one position he really enjoyed!!

Jbird did awesome.  It took him a bit to get it, but once he did, he was running across the ice.  It looks so funny, running in ice skates.  The gliding will come, just need to get him out there frequently.

Of course he fell

And fell some more, but always got back up!

The smile says it all...he was probably out for an hour!

I did manage to get a few shots of them together!

We have a frequent visitor to the house these days....

Here are 2 pictures from Christmas morning....

Something I have wanted to do for a long time now, I finally decided the time was right. We 'adopted' a child through World Vision. Maycol (pronounced Michael) is about 3 weeks older than B.

He lives with his mother and brother in Honduras. (From my calculations, it is about 1 hour from where JR's parents live, so hopeful someday we can meet him). If I recall correctly, kids that are sponsored have to stay in school and they do write back. Once a year World Vision will send us an updated photo. Our support goes to provide basic needs (I read that the average yearly income for Honduras is $1,800!). We recently emailed him (it is printed out and takes 1-3 months for things to get delivered to him). We will soon mail him a picture of the boys along with a few hand draw photos. Will be fun to get letters back from him. As we get to know him we can send small gifts, school supplies, etc.

Working on potty training more with JB.  He is doing pretty good, I just need to set a timer to remind him to go to the bathroom.  We have pulled out all of his underwear so he can get to them.  What he loves to do, is put on 5, 6 or 7 pair at a time....makes it difficult to get them off, but whatever works.  They all have 'characters' on the back and he gets very upset when I put them on the 'right' way because he can not see the characters...hence he wears everything backwards.

Looking forward to low key weekend and New Years!

Merry Christmas!!

Last night after Church I got frustrated with the boys and told them there would be consequences the next morning for not obeying! So, we got up this morning and they quickly straightened up their rooms. Then we came downstairs and gathered around the Christmas tree and read the Christmas Story from the book of Luke. Then had pancakes and bacon. Then we opened up presents. I really liked how things went this morning, because the focus was not on the gifts first thing. I might have stumbled upon a new tradition for us. The Christmas story and breakfast around the Christmas tree and then gifts.

Last night was our annual Christmas Eve service at church. Knowing how my boys like ties, their Granny and Aunt had found them some ties and matching shirts. Shockingly, we convinced all three of them to wear it to the service and they were quite excited. Here is a picture before all the ties came off....

On Friday night we took B to see The Christmas Carol. He has been to plays before but never a full-on production. It was a very interesting evening. In hindsight, I would have explained the story line to him a little better. I did not really take into consideration his understanding of the ghosts/spirits of Christmas and what they all meant. So, he was a little confused as to what was going on. Then somewhere around the time the ghost of Christmas past appeared, a gentleman behind us starting throwing up. Now we were in the balcony, on the next to the last row. It is a old theater with great acoustics. I can only imagine how things might have sounded to others in the building. This poor gentleman..I have no idea how old he was (younger than older)but what do you do. He threw up and then just sat there, and then threw up two other times. One of the other guys in his party went downstairs to get some help (ie clean up crew) and the other couple people helped him out. I am thankful he did not throw up as he walked down the aisle. So, there was a lot of flurry of ushers walking in and out, as well as other play-goers getting overwhelmed with the situation and walking out for fresh air. Lots of distractions. Some how through all of this, the gentleman sitting beside us had fallen asleep and was snoring! Then the scary ghost/spirit appears. It was quite the interesting first half. Despite the distractions, it was a good play and as B put it all together at the end, he enjoyed it too.

Not much else going on this week...been pretty cold when a little bit of snow!

I obviously have not been online much this week.

The boys recently had their Christmas programs. Here is Santa, who did a wonderful job...

Here is JBird..

We also ventured out recently and went sledding with the Cub Scouts...
JB and his silly little faces.

All three of them climbing back up the hill.

Tried to download some videos, but was having problems...did not intend for the following to be as lengthy as it was, just some thoughts that are heavy on my heart.
Thanks in advance for letting me ramble...I don't do that very often. Hopefully you will be encouraged or at least challenged to think/see things differently.

Yesterday I volunteered in Jbird's kindergarten classroom. Just could not fathom, looking at that classroom of 17 kids, how anyone could take the life of a small child. Knowing that just that morning, a man in Connecticut had walked into a classroom just like his and did just that. There is no understanding, our minds are not created to understand or make sense of this.

All I can do is continue to trust that God is in control. I don't get it and that is okay. I do not control the universe and personally, I am glad for that. God does and why did God allow a senseless act like this, I have not the faintest idea. Did He cause it, no, the evil in this world did. But for reasons I cannot see, He did allow it. Yes, I believe He could have stopped it, but did not. Does that make Him any less loving, no, it does not. (Even typing that I can not fully wrap my mind around it, but I will continue to go on trusting in His sovereignty and just ways.) Does that lessen the hurt for the grieving families, absolutely not. I just pray that they draw upon the only One that can get a family through something like this.

I do know that regardless of whether I drop my kids off at school, take them to a movie, the library, a sporting event or even in the comforts of our own home, I cannot ultimately protect them from the evil of this world. That is why I am continually praying a hedge of protection around them...spiritually then physically. (Yes, I believe the spiritual battle is a much greater battle than the physical battle.)

I always find it interesting when things like this happen, everyone is so quick to start asking questions and how could God allow something like this to happen. I feel so strongly that we as a nation are removing God from so many areas...schools, government, events, etc. What we need is not gun control laws, what we need is for our country to again realize how precious life is and Who gives that life. There are so many instances where life is 'cheapened' from the unborn all the way up to the elderly. We don't value life like we use to and it is starting to seep into the corners of our fabric. Generations are being raised without a moral compass. What do we expect, that we can continually turn our back on God and then expect His hand of mercy and grace.

Yet, we see it over and over again, in the Old Testament. God's people turn their back on God, things deteriorate, they repent, things look up, they turn their back and the cycle continues. Because God is a loving God, but He is also a just God. I have heard it said that How can a loving God send someone to hell...my question, is how can a just God send everyone to Heaven. He will not force our hand. We either choose Him or not and if we choose not to choose Him, then we need to be prepared for whatever consequences could come our way (and yes, I do believe that the ultimate consequence is a life lived separated from God = Hell).

Sovereignty again, who understands it. Why did God send His only Son to live on this fallen world. Would you give up your son or daughter for a world that would curse Your name...? Yes, in just over a week, we will celebrate just that, the birth of Christ. As we are privileged to have the whole picture, knowing that in just 33 short years, Christ's life would come to the end, at the hand of evil. Yet, who can explain why a God would do that...my only answer, a God that loves beyond comprehension. Even as a parent, I don't get it, but that is okay, God did not create my mind to fathom all of that.

In the days and weeks to come, I will pray for the families that lost loved ones, including the family of the killer. Yes, they lost a child/brother too and cannot imagine the scars, emotions and maybe guilt that they will forever carry. I pray that they fall upon the One and only One that can give peace that passes all understanding. That is what I hold onto through the difficult times in life, because He is weaving a tapestry in my life that I can't see or comprehend. I only see the here and now, not the finished product. And I trust him with the finished product so I need to trust Him with the daily details (good or bad) too.

I think the cold has finally settled in!

Both B and Jbird are gearing up for their Christmas programs this next week. B has done a good job memorizing his lines. Now if he will just slow down when he says them. He brought home his Santa suit the other day to try it on. Figured I would get a picture in case it is too busy the day of.

For the first time, we are doing an Advent Wreath. We turn off all the lights and light the candles during dinner. The boys enjoy 'lighting' them.

B has discovered books on tape from the library. He laid in bed this morning for about half an hour listening to a book.

Last night we had our local Festival of Lights. We headed to one park where they were doing lighted lanterns. They are some type of paper and when extended, they are probably 2 feet high. There is a thing on the bottom that you light. As the flame gets going, then the 'balloon' part fills up with air. However, if you don't let it properly fill up, it does not go anywhere. With the slight breeze last night, there were lots of lanterns that were getting lose and staying down very low. One lantern literally missed landing straight on Jbird's hair by about 1/2 an inch. Another time I ran after a loose one as it headed for a child's coat hood, which had that furry stuff on it. The lanterns were really pretty when they were released properly. Would have been fun to watch them all go up at the same time, but it was sporadic over 5 minutes.

Then the boys decorated cookies at a local grocery store and we got to go on a hay ride. Then we headed to the library and made Christmas cards. Overall a fun evening!

A quiet weekend in store!

Here are a few pictures from the last couple of days.....

We have the Christmas stuff put up and Jbird decided he wanted to hang some other lights. After he finished, we started working on a Christmas puzzle...that little guy almost puts me to shame. I have to admit I really enjoy and am good at putting puzzles together and Jbird has inherited that gene - that kid rocks. He worked beside me for over an hour, staring at a puzzle.

The thing I like about this picture...see both of his arms....

They are up. Yea! Whatever issues he was having with his left arm, are almost non-existent. Praise God. He still holds it a little ackward but will see what the chiropractor says on Tuesday.

Just a quick word on JB and his arm.
On Monday I took him to my chiropractor. After feeling around a bit, he thought it was a shoulder injury if anything. He taped him up and we were on our way. Tuesday was my regular "Chiro" day, so he looked at JB again. He still did not feel anything but said if we went to his other office on Wednesday, he would x-ray again. Also on Tuesday while at speech therapy, the therapist had a PT person come look at him and they said the wrist. Then at pre-school, they had another PT person come in and they said elbow.

All the while he is not using his arm - at all. It just hangs limp.

On Wednesday we x-rayed the elbow and nothing. He felt all up and down the arm again. He said the pain response from JB was decreased and swelling down, as opposed to Monday. He taped him up and encouraged me to get him using it. We are thinking soft tissue injury, which takes 7-10 days to heal. The plan now is if he is not using it considerably by Monday, will probably call and schedule an MRI.

I am able to move his hand/arm around without him screaming, but he still holds his shoulder weird and will not put it out to protect him. He has voluntarily used it a little bit, small movements, but I will take it.

I have been staying away from the computer lately. Just is a big black hole with me..the less I am on it, the more productive I tend to be.

I've been contemplative lately. Just thankful for where we are at right now. A very steady, secure job, healthy kids and freedoms a lot of others in the world don't have. We had a great Thanksgiving. Went to some friend's house and had two deep fried turkeys and two grilled chickens plus all the trimmings. Even got a few hands of cards in.

Made a trip to Urgent Care today. Joseph threw something at one of his brothers and the (unnamed) brother got mad. He grabbed Joseph by the wrist and flung him off the couch. Immediate tears and favoring the other arm. I watched him over the next couple of hours and he was not using the arm. He even took a short nap and woke up crying his arm hurt. Decided an x-ray was in order. (Our first 'accident' trip ever - not bad with 3 boys).

The doctor did not see anything on the x-ray and assumed it was nursemade (?) elbow. He tried manipulating and pulling traction. He did not get the response from the arm he anticipated. We decided best to watch him the next 24 hours and if he does not have full range of motion in it after 24 hours, we are to go back. He is still favoring the arm and not using it much. Will see how things are in the morning/afternoon.

Been trying to finish up a few projects so I can put up Christmas stuff and get to work on my Christmas puzzle - one of my most favorite things to do. See if I can get a few more things done before bedtime!

Just random stuff....
B is really intrigued by the Titanic and that whole story. He has checked out lots of books on it. Today he was asking me when it sank. I could not remember and then he asked me if I was alive when it sank :-)
I love his individuality. The other day he came home from school with his sweatpants tucked inside his wool socks. This past weekend he went to church with his jeans tucked inside his boots. I always chuckle and he asks me why....I tell him I just love the way he is not concerned with what others think.
He has gotten a big part in the 3rd grade Christmas play/musical at school. Seems he has landed the part of Santa. We are working on memorizing lines, but fortunately it is set up so that the kids have the written script if lines are forgotten. As I recall, in previous years the kids walk up to a podium and speak the lines so takes some of the pressure off. He was very excited!

Jbird...Recently I was talking with another mom who had helped with picture retakes at school. She was talking with J as they walked for retakes. He told her that he needed to get his picture retaken because 'his curls did not lay right.' Then I was going up to his class and taking snack....chocolate chip banana bread. Before I got there, they were talking in class about snack and the teacher mentioned I was bringing banana bread. The kids got excited and then J stood up and raised his arms up and said, 'not just any banana bread, but chocolate chip banana bread - all the kids oohed and aahed.

JR got an small bull elk this past weekend. Anyone want to know what the smell of death smells like...just come visit our garage. But hey, meat in the freezer.

B's Cub Scout Den leader has suddenly quit. Our co-leader was his wife, so we are left high and dry. I have come along, for the moment and am picking up the pieces. So, one more hat I am trying my hand at. Hopefully a replacement would be found quickly. At least the program is so structured and laid out, it is easy to jump in and carry on.

That is all that is in my little head...off to do a few more things before hitting the gym.

It was a beautiful day today.....We have collected quite an assortment of sleds, so took them out for a spin.

JB was getting all the snow in the face....(I love the hair flying).  This was the shot that I literally had to jump out of the way right after I took it - straight for me!

Just happened to catch all of them in this shot...notice B's peace sign...

This was by far the favorite sled of JB's...

We tried all coming down together. Yes, I have on a short sleeve shirt and no gloves!  It was that nice.

We all had a good time. JB got plowed over by a sled and then one trip down some dogs that were playing on the hill ran over him. Not to mention all the times he would tumble off of his sled. He did amazing. He would get back up and tuck that sled under his arm and hike back up the hill.

Some where along the way JB has found his whine...seems like it is almost constant right now. When I remind him that he is whining, he changes his voice to a deep voice. It is funny how he can't seem to whine with his 'deep' voice.

His therapist retested him recently. His expressive language is now at 2 years and 8 months (he is 3 years 3 months). So, he is doing really well with vocabulary, now we need to work more on intelligibility. He did drop considerably in his receptive language though. The therapist said that the test she used has a lot harder content for the 3 year old (versus 1 or 2 year old). Things like you have three words - long, longer and longest. Then you are suppose to point to the girl with the longer hair. If the child points to the girl with the longest hair, they get it wrong. She is not too worried about it, but will keep an eye on it and retest him at some point. Just good to see the long term improvement.

Seems Jbird is taking an interest in animal books of late. One of the most recent books he checked out from the library was a book on squids. Then he wanted to find videos online about squids (wonder if I could get him to try squid). He has checked out books on jungle animals and sharks. B is starting to discover more chapter books. We continue to slowly work our way through our Christian Heroes series. We are trying to finish up the book on Eric Lidell - the guy the movie Chariots of Fire was based on.

We have a very quiet weekend coming up. Nothing on the calendar but church. Hopefully we can try to get in some good sledding!

Winter arrived on Thursday. That night we got 10.5 inches at the house. Then 1.5 inches the next day. We have already hit zero! Would not mind some really good skiing this winter, but hope the cold, cold days are few! Jbird has always loved icicles. So when the sun came up today we went outside and there were plenty to find.

JR got a small buck last weekend. Went out again yesterday but did not get a clear shot on anything!

B has had his mouth appliance put back in. He is not really diggin it. I told him some day he would appreciate it though.

The other day as I picked the kids up from school, we were walking back to our van. There stood a police officer - waiting for me. I was parked alongside the street and seems the man parked in front of me had bumped my vehicle while backing up. It happened right as the police officer drove by, so he was obligated to stop and 'investigate'. I told him I was fine with everything, especially since I could not see any damage. My license checked out, so I was free to go. The other man got a talkin' to from the officer about something though!

On Halloween, we attended a fall festival at a local church. They had carnival type games you could play. The boys got in line for the one where you throw a dart at a balloon. They each got three tries and JB was 3 for 3. I am sure it was not intentional, but he has an arm. Then the other day when we went horse back riding, JB was throwing the ball with Mr. Joel. At one point Mr. Joel was not looking and JB hit him right in the forehead.

To show you the type of questions my child can generate...in science they were learning about the food chain and if things were producers and consumers. B asked the teacher about the Venus Fly Trap. She did not know. Right after school she googled it and then called B on my cell to tell him the answer.

Jbird can now retire his red sweats (that have been worn way too many days in a row.) I finally found some sweats that he likes! I also have a lot of other pairs that will be saved for JB because they are perfectly good
but he doesn't like them. (Choose your battles, right?)

It has always bothered me when I would see kids B's age with pants that were too short.  I don't like short pants and never understood why parents would continually put them on their child.  Well, now I get it.  B has finally hit the stage where all his clothes are sized 8-10, not 5 or 6 or 7.  All of the 8-10s are so long on him, so he is wearing 6-7s.  I keep telling him to pull his pants down a bit.  He balks.  I just hope as he gets older and it is the style to wear your pants really low on the hips that he will continue to balk.

I  was able to talk Jbird into redoing his school pictures. I even sent a note with him in his pocket to give the photographer. It read "Don't touch his hair". In the first shoot, the photographer had parted his bangs down the middle, showing his forehead. I was told after school today that the photographer did not even try to mess with his hair. You don't mess with my son's hair.

I am enjoying helping out in the classrooms. With B's class, I pull kids out individually to help them with flash cards, telling time or counting money. It is fun because I just go down the roster, so I get to hang with all the kids. It is at a terrible time of the day for me. I had considered telling the teacher I would do every other week, but being up there last time and seeing how much they enjoyed it, I will plug along. The kids in Jbird's class enjoy any adult. You can tell those that are starved for attention. I was on the playground today and one boy came up and gave me a hug as I walked away!

Getting our first major snowstorm....planning on several inches of snow in the morning.

This afternoon it was too nice to be inside. So we ventured out to a local fishing access and threw some rocks. I tried to get a good picture of the three of them....Fortunately I had Jbird who was trying to rally the troops for me.  Can you guess who had the attitude...

Good thing I still have a few more weeks to try to get them all looking and smiling at the camera at the same time for Christmas pictures.

B has decided he wants to let his hair grow out.  It is starting to curl on the temple.  I think his hair is too thick though.  Just so interesting to see God's handiwork in each of them...so different, yet they all came from the same DNA.  B has the thick, coarse hair, Jbird has the curly fine hair and JB's is straight and fine.

The boys for some reason have really gotten into wrestling...like all three of them going at it.  Almost too much noise and chaos for me - which is saying a lot. It usually ends with one of them crying, but in the end they all love it.

Parent teacher conferences are this Thursday!  Anticipating a breeze with one teacher and quite a discussion with the other.  B is finally seeing the orthodontist on Thursday, to see if the appliance could be repaired and then it will be put back in.  He has lost another tooth!  They are slowly coming out.

For school all three of the boys are suppose to read every day.  Needless to say we are doing way more reading than before.  It is hard to get in a combined total of 1 hour a day.  I have tried to get B to read out loud to his brothers but that is usually not successful.  So I read to the younger two and then have B read out loud at a different time.  I am amazed at what they retain from our reading.

Today was an early release from school and a beautiful November day. We headed out to some friends' house who recently got a 'kid' horse. The boys had a great time hanging out with Sheena.  They had to 'work' for their ride.

They each rode solo but when it came time for number 1 to get off, number 2 got on the back for a lap or two, then number 1 would get off and 2 would slide up.

I love his dimples.....

We were not real sure how JB would do on the back, but he hung on tight.

I love the scenery in this one....despite what it looks like, Jbird did not fall asleep on the back of the horse and JB looks so serious, but they both were having a blast.

The other half of the afternoon was spent on their hay bales.  I never realized how much fun hay bales could be.  Those pictures coming up on a future post!  Off to bed.